The Evening Express in Aberdeen has shown that it really does go that extra mile when it comes to giving its readers a good chuckle.

Tapping into the hype surrounding the new Channel 4 drama Lost, it sent reporter Gordon Coutts to the village of Lost in deepest Aberdeenshire.

The newspaper gave him the role of the drama's central character - neurosurgeon Jack Shephard - who is among a group of survivors left stranded on a mysterious desert island when their plane crashes.

To make matters worse the island is inhabited by strange beasts that try to hunt down the passengers.

Reporter Gordon also became the intended prey of a carnivorous beast after he landed in Aberdeenshire's Lost - he was chased down the road by a terrier called Toby.

Writing about his 'desert island' experience in the paper, Gordon said: "Unlike Lost's plane crash survivors - who found themselves marooned on a sun-kissed beach - it turned out I was more Robinson Rural than Crusoe."

Evening Express assistant editor Richard Prest said: "Everyone in the office was talking about the show Lost - and by luck we have our own village Lost. It was an opportunity that couldn't be missed.

"And it was a fantastic effort by Gordon and photographer Simon Walton who really made this come alive, and gave us all a good laugh."